That’s what Consumer Watchdog is recommending following Google’s admission that people shouldn’t expect privacy when they send messages to a Gmail account, any more than people would were they to send a business letter that could be opened by an assistant.

"Just as a sender of a letter to a business colleague cannot be surprised that the recipient's assistant opens the letter, people who use web-based email today cannot be surprised if their emails are processed by the recipient's [email provider] in the course of delivery.

"Indeed, 'a person has no legitimate expectation of privacy in information he voluntarily turns over to third parties.'" Read more